River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-03-24

little care, soon gave signs OF q cheer
full vitality. There was a neat and
choice little supper left upon the table
You are probably too excited to
sleep just now" said Shaw" so you
may rs we'll eat something"
felt. to M own surprise, no dis
inclination to this proposition.
You see, said Shaw, according
to your idea, there is every reason to
trust Mrs. Hardy information. If it be
accurate. Plowitz cannot cross to Ant
werp till tomorrow, or rather, as it is
now past three, this evening. From
what l gather Of Miss Fortescue's
character, she is overawed and helpless
and viii shrink from making a scene
so long as Plowitz treats her with out
ward Difference.
That was | felt, quiet true. / could
imagine the polite cruelty with which
he would speak for her, misrepresent
her, and. probably. enlist sympathy for
her. from the very people who, if they
could but read the facts of the ease,
would gladly come between
him and his prey As we
ate light supper, Shaw
derived from me additional information
upon some points which | had not
previously made sufficiently clear, and
gave me great. and. / could not but
think, reasonable encouragement.
1T is not Plowitz' 5 interest TO resort
to desperate measures" be observed.
''IIe evidently hopes in some way to
compel her to consent to his suit; but
if we act with discretion. as well as
with yigour, l do not see that any
actual harm or danger is to be antici-
pated. At any rate, we are on the
right track
suppose said I, ''that note was a
forgery trick Of the Basilisk's to put
US on the wrong track?'
1T would disappoint our hopes, but
it would not make our difficulties
greater than if we had not received
such information. The excellent Rose
bush viii have al the Interpretations
watched. depend upon it. The gravest
inference. if that note be a forgery, will
be that Miss Beaufoy has discovered
Mrs. Hardy's sympathy with you and
Miss Fortestcue.
just as he finished speaking, we
started and looked at one another.
There was the sound Of a footstep
crunching the gravel on the drive.
Ii came nearer; it mounted the steps
TO the door,
Now. who in the name of wonder "
said Shaw, .'can this be. at three in the
morning.
The bell was rung by a careful hand,
and knocking. apparently with
knuckles. on the door followed.
That must be Anthony, said Shaw
-..the porter.
We went together to open the door.
There. wrapped in a thick cloak, stood
the porter.
BUSY work tonight, sir" he said.
coughing, and putting that irony into
his words which men of his class use as
a ~afetv-valve for outraged susceptible
ties y 'ausom cab brought this. sir,
and it 5 a waiting for an answer at the
gate
This" was small note. which the
old man handed to Shaw.
Come in and sit down, Anthony"
said Shaw. hastily shutting the door,
and pointing 10 a hall-chair.
We returned to the study.
Its to me, !" said Shaw, opening
the note.
H. glanced At it, and handed it to
me.
II was a small note. hurriedly written
in pencil on thin paper. upon some
rough surface. such as the cover of a
book
The writing was Ike Mary's. How
III Mr.. Coplestone has come to you,
tell him 1 am not gone. They are
keeping me mere still. The side-gate
viii be open, and Mrs. Hardy will
leave the door unlocked. She has
helped me There Is a cab waiting.
Send him back at once. if he would
ever see me again. The driver may be
trusted"
That is Just Ike themr' 1 ex-
claimed. The Basilisk has tried to
put us on a false scent, and all the
while Mary is still at Hanover Lodge
Shaw looked anxious.
..Do you know the handwriting" he
asked.
1T Is Mary's," I said. al win 60"
cit may be a trick. I" said he
$50 may the other" l answered;
..mueh more probably. Once before
thev pretended that she had gone, and
kept her a prisoner. This is only a
variation Of the old trick. The note
IL. Is .1t.t,r-r-
forgery. 1t would have sent us of on
a wild-goose chase. and meanwhile
Plowitz could carry her of some other
way without fear of interruption"
Shaw seemed impressed,
s.You know them better than 1 do"
Yes; viii 90 at once
Perhaps you had BETTER" he said.
Take this with you. 1t may be useful
He handed me a neat little revolver.
I took it. and resolved to use it on the
hrst possible provocatiOn from any Of
that gang Of murderers.
Now then: where is the cab9' l
asked as we came out into the hail.
AT the gate. sir. and waiting said
Anthony. gruffly, but resienedly.
His night re 4 was hopeles,ly spoilt.
but he contrived to put a sort of latent
tone of sympathy even into bis grutf-
ness.
At he gate we found avery ordinary
looking hanson.
Who sent you bereP'' said to the
driver.
The woman up 1t Hanover Lodge, "
said the man, a grey-bearted individ-
ual. who seemed more fitted t7r the box
Of a decrepit four-whceler. Hardy 5
missis. a. keeps the gates. 1"
Il shall 20, l slid in a whisper to
Shaw.
We had a hurried conversation as to
plans and communications, which, short
As it was. was broken in upon by the
driver. who observed:
BEG pardon. sir; but Mrs. Hardy
said. as if you didn't come sharp, You
might as well not come at all. No
offence. gentlemen; but that was the
message she gave TO me.
Ali rightl' l said. and jumping in.
waved a goodbye 10 Shaw, and was
driven off at a round pace towards
Hanover Lodge.
There were no signs of day when the
cab stopped. As well as l could judge,
at the entrance 10 the lane.
Il was to stop here. said the man
.snot to disturb the folks at the gate